We Need to Talk about Germany Conversation
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A look at the historical forces and current events that are shaping today’s Germany, seen through the lens of Georg Baselitz’s art

Sky Room

23.04.2025 19:00

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MUNCH Talks

A variety of topics and formats, spanning from literary discussions to expert talks on museums, and insights into ongoing exhibitions.

Doors: 18:30
Event start: 19:00
The conversation is held in Norwegian.
Notice: The event is free, but be aware that a ticket does not guarantee a seat. Due to limited capacity, please arrive early to secure your spot.

Norway’s biggest ever Georg Baselitz exhibition takes place at MUNCH between February 15th and May 4th. The artist is considered one of the most important German artists of his generation alongside artists like Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke and Anselm Kiefer. He was born in 1938 in Nazi-run Germany, and grew up in the communist East Germany. In 1957 he was thrown out of the East Berlin Art Academy for his ‘socio-political immaturity’ and made his way to West Berlin. His experience of being born in a ‘destroyed order’ has been a key theme running through his whole artistic career.

Germany has a general election on 23 February 2025. Once again, the nation stands at a crossroads. The far right is on the rise, external actors are trying to interfere with the vote, and the culture is extremely polarised after a year and a half of escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. What historical threads must be grasped in order to understand the latest election and the current situation? And what relevance does Baselitz have among all this?

MUNCH has invited historian and author Astrid Sverresdotter Dypvik and culture journalist Olaf Haagensen to view the exhibition and share their reflections on Germany then and now. Following introductory remarks from both, they will take part in a panel discussion moderated by art historian and concept developer for MUNCH, Nikita Mathias.

Astrid S. Dypvik (b. 1977) is an advisor for Tankesmien Agenda. She is a historian and author and has published several books on German history and society.

Olaf Haagensen (b. 1981) is a culture journalist at Morgenbladet. He studied literature with a particular interest in the culture of memorialising the Holocaust.